Democratic College Township Councilman Paul Takac has officially announced his candidacy for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and, as it stands, the seat currently held by House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte.
Takac — who set up an exploratory committee in June — made his 2022 campaign official at a launch event held Sunday in Lemont.
“We are at a crucial crossroads in this country, this Commonwealth, and in our communities,” Takac said, according to a release. “The political extremism and attacks on our democratic institutions and elections … have deep roots here in Pennsylvania, and in the actions of our current representatives, Kerry Benninghoff and [State Senate President Pro Tempores] Jake Corman. We have also reached a crossroads regarding the kind of future we want for our children, our grandchildren, and our communities … It’s the same story over and over across countless issues — a lack of funding, a lack of access, and often a simple lack of compassion. We can and must do better.”
Takac noted that while he currently resides in the 171st district, which Benninghoff has represented for 13 terms, the redistricting process is underway and will determine how the lines are drawn for the 2022 election.
State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, Centre County Democratic Committee political director Jessica O’Hara and Patton Township Board of Supervisors Vice-Chair Pamela Robb spoke on Takac’s behalf at the launch event.
A longtime Centre County resident who lives in Lemont with his wife and three children, Takac said he “will champion good governance, environmental and economic leadership and investments in infrastructure,” such as ensuring broadband internet access for every individual, school and business, “increasing accessibility to comprehensive health care and rebuilding physical infrastructure in rural communities.”
Takac was elected to College Township Council in 2019. He also serves on the Spring Creek Watershed Commission and Centre Region Council of Governments Public Safety Committee. He has worked in education technology for three decades.
As currently drawn the 171st District includes parts of Centre and Mifflin counties. In Centre County, the district represents Bellefonte, Centre Hall and Millheim boroughs and College (partial), Ferguson (partial), Gregg, Harris, Penn, Potter, Spring and Walker townships
Coinciding with his campaign launch, Takac received his first organizational endorsement, from Unitarian Universalist Justice PA, an organization of Unitarian Universalists who are dedicated to “pursuing justice by voting, advocating and making just public policies.”
“Unitarian Universalist Justice PA enthusiastically endorses Paul Takac for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives,” Rev. Joan Sabatino and Richard Williams said in a joint statement. “Paul is an independent thinker. He has the vision and skills to work with others to enact just public policies that are sorely needed in Pennsylvania.”
